The Bayern Agenda is the first novel in the spy-fi thriller series The Galactic Cold War, written by Dan Moren, and published by Angry Robot Books. A story full of intrigue and subterfuge, set in the backdrop of a galactic cold war between two superpowers (The Illyrican Empire and the Commonwealth of Independent Services); a book with an excellent cast of characters, tons of fun and banter, a well-layered mystery, and nostalgia for the Golden Age of spies films.

We will be following Simon Kovalic, a covert operative for the Commonwealth, while he's trying to understand the ties between the Illyrican Empire and the Bayern Corporation; an unexpected incident during a mission forces his ex-wife, Lt Commander Taylor, to take control over his undercover team in this new task that will try to avoid the escalation of the conflict between the two superpowers.
Told from two POV, Kovalic's one and the recently incorporated Eli Brody, we will be thrown into a world of conspiracy and political intrigue, and where many questions' answers will only come with a new one thing to investigate attached; all while trying to not blow their undercover identities and alert the Illyrican powers of their intentions.

While it's true that the story is limited to two POVs, Moren does an excellent job at painting a full portrait of the undercover team, a group of individuals which feel as a family under the command of Kovalic and Taylor. There's a certain tension between Kovalic and Taylor due to their past, but they appreciate each other; Brody is new to this world, and compensates insecurity with boldness, and Trapper might be the perfect definition of a cold but good character. Page is complicated, as his role will become the more complex in the whole operation. The banter between the members of the team is delicious, helping many times to ease the tension that is intrinsical to the own undercover mission, while making you laugh; they are not only coworkers, but also care about the others.

As itself, this novel is a bit slower than I would have expected, taking certain pauses to further develop the past of our characters and to explain the necessary things about the world. However, Moren manages to keep the tension alongside the plot, creating more situations that require an answer from the characters, going about the subterfuge and the intrigue related to the mission.
The worldbuilding has touches of science-fiction, but it remembers more to the classic spies films, including gadgets and crappy technology that fail at the worst moment. Particularly, I found interesting the concept of the Bayern Corporation itself, as it adds a bit more of spice to this world.

The Bayern Agenda is, definitely, a fun and thrilling read, perfect for those that like spy-fi stories with an extra touch of found family inside. I enjoyed it much, so it's a must continue with The Galactic Cold War series.